Tuck yawned slightly, then smiled in the
warm glow of the fire. Things could be worse. A quick
glance at Marian safe and sound affirmed this. Things
could be much worse. True, he was amongst what many would
call a band of outlaws, of dangerous brigands, but Tuck
thought he knew better. Surely this was what the Lord
meant for him to do when he received his calling? To keep
this flock, albeit a small and rugged flock, on the path.

Looking into the orange flames, he wondered what tomorrow
had in store for them when he heard someone crashing into
camp. It was Much. But wasn't the lad on watch? Tuck got
to his feet as Much hurriedly related what he had seen. A
monk riding alone in the Greenwood? The friar mused to
himself as Much turned to him and asked what it could
mean.

"It could mean several things child," Tuck
sighed, sorting the possibilites out through his head. It
was unusual, that much was sure. "If he was moving
at a pace such as you describe then his business must be
most urgent." Tuck scowled. It was likely that such
business would be Hugo's business. "Monks are used
to life in a monastery," he reasoned. "It is
likely that our boy has taken somewhere to rest for the
night." Tuck looked to the others, wishing Robin
were here to make a decision.

John had smiled as he listened to Much's exited report,
then listened carefully to Tuck and Marion's replies. He
nodded at the friar's comments about a probably most
urgent business and raised an eyebrow as he saw how
Marion got upset thinking Abbot Hugo might be planning on
how to get her back.

The former shepherd's eyes followed the girl as she stood
and walked over to the edge of the clearing.
"Marion... where you're going?"

Marion, slightly startled out her thoughts, composed
herself and turned to face John. "I am looking see
if Robin is coming back." She gave him a small smile
and turned away again to watch the woods. She wrapped her
cloak around her and looked thoughtful. She thought,
"Robin, where are you?"

Gisburne
in search for Robin Hood

Meg of Wickham, who had been planting seeds along
with some of the other women in the village, looked up in
apprehension when she heard the sound of hoof beats in
the distance. She rose slowly as a group of soldiers came
into view. They were shepherding some people towards
Wickham. Meg turned her head sharply as she heard one of
the women gasp. Alison had placed a hand to her mouth.
Edward, the thane of Wickham, was among the prisoners
being conducted to the village.

The villagers drew back in terror as the soldiers drew
into the village. One soldier in particular caught their
attention. Sitting on his horse, with his bright blue
cloak and hard, cold eyes, he was hard to miss.

"I want information," announced the knight.
"I'm looking for a cutthroat named Robin Hood."
Gisburne waited for a response. Like Edward, the
villagers stared at him blankly. Gisburne sighed audibly.
"Some of you may know him better as Robin of
Loxley."

"What? You mean the boy being
fostered by Matthew the Miller?" piped up a voice.

Gisburne's eyes narrowed as he scanned the sea of faces
below him, but he couldn't find the man who had spoken.
"Yes, the very same, though the miller's dead
now."

There was a shocked murmur among the people and some cold
glares directed at Gisburne.

"Be silent!" ordered the knight. The
villagers grew quiet at once. "Now, are any of you
going to tell me Robin of Loxley's whereabouts, or am I
going to have to arrest more men?"

"Wouldn't he be at the mill?" suggested one of
the villagers.

"No, he isn't at the mill. He's in Sherwood,"
answered Gisburne impatiently.

"Then why don't you look there?" said the same
villager. Gisburne looked at the man coldly.
"Guards, bring that idiot forward."

Two soldiers headed towards the group of people, who
attempted to hold back the guards while the man escaped.

"Get after him!" shouted Gisburne. Several
guards pushed their way past screaming women and wailing
children. As Gisburne heaped curses on everyone, Meg
crept behind one of the huts. If this Robin Hood was who
Gisburne wanted, she would go to Sherwood to find him.
She had to save the other villagers from the Nottingham
Castle dungeons while there was still a village standing.
Meg walked quickly towards the border of the village. If
she could just make it to the trees before Gisburne
noticed she was missing‚¶ ‚My lord,
that woman's escaping!‚ shouted one of the
soldiers. Meg took to her heels and bolted towards the
trees. She could hear voices behind her, frighteningly
close. Her heart almost stopped when she tripped over her
skirts. Then she picked herself up, lifted her skirts
higher, and kept running. She was almost at the trees
now. Her lungs were burning, and she was almost sobbing
in fear. She could no longer hear voices behind her and
she wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad one. She
kept up the same pace just in case. Then she was in the
forest. She stood panting for a moment, not sure what to
do now that she had escaped. She knew she had to find
Robin Hood, but how? And when she did find him what would
she say? How would she trick him into coming to Wickham?
Even if she did manage such a feat, would she ever be
able to return to her village again after what she had
done? Meg brushed away the tears that had started running
hotly down her cheeks. She had to find Robin Hood now.
She would worry about the rest later.

Meg
meets the Saracen

At the distant sounds of movement in the forest ahead
of him the Saracen paused, his ears focusing solely on
those sounds. If it was a deer it was being pursued by
someone... or something. Perhaps one of the Sheriff's men
had taking to a different kind of hunting. He moved
silently in the direction of the noise.... a hand
instinctively raising to the hilt of one of his swords...
the crashing was louder now... but it wasn't the sound of
an animal... there was more to it than that. Nasir moved
parallel to it, cocking his head slightly. As he reached
the edge of a small cleaning he slowed and then stopped.
Whatever it was was now coming directly towards him... he
drew the sword and crossed his hands in front of him, the
blade pointed to the ground as he stepped into the
clearing ready to meet whoever it was...

When the dark man stepped out of the trees Meg's first
reaction was to scream, her second was to turn and run.
At least in Wickham she knew who the enemy was. She ran
as if her life depended on it, calling on Herne to
protect her as she stumbled over roots and through
brambles in her haste to escape. "Oh, please, don't
let me die here in the forest alone... please let me make
it back to Wickham!"

The girl's scream was unexpected and it took Nasir a
moment to react, by then she was already running back the
way she'd come. Nasir debated following her, but what
would be the point? He couldn't explain who he was, tell
her he only wanted to help her, he couldn't even ask he
what had brought her into the forest. No, better to let
her return to where ever she had come from and try to
warn Robin that he had been seen. He sheathed his swords
and faded back into the trees before pausing to determine
the direction of the camp. Only when he had his bearings
did he begin to move silently through the trees towards
it. His pace through the forest was slow and deliberate
and numerous times he paused as an unidentifiable sound
or rustle in the brush drew his attention.

Marion
in the woods

Marion stood at the edge of the clearing wondering
what she should do. She glanced back to those who were
there to see if they watched her. Again she turned to the
woods, feeling nervous and not sure why. Her patience was
beginning to wear thin and she didn't want to stay there
pacing like a wild animal. She walked forward. "I'm
not going to wait for Hugo or the Sheriff to find me
here." she thought. "If they find me here, then
everyone will be in danger and I do not wish that. I will
go for a walk to calm my nerves and if need be lead de
Rainault on a wild goose chase away from the camp.
Perhaps I will find Robin as well." With that, she
smiled and slipped off into the forest.

Away from the camp now, she walked carefully and quietly
through the woods. Marion's eyes took in her surroundings
and she listened to the sounds around her lest there be a
trap waiting. She made sure to look for the familiar
landmarks, so that she would not lose her way. She did
not want to be gone too long and she would be back before
they missed her....

Little John saw Marion standing on the edge of their
transitory camp before his attention returned to Much and
Tuck who were still discussing the issue of a monk in the
forest. The next time he looked up, Marion was gone and
the only sign of her was the rustling of leaves...

The big man jumped to his feet and leaving Tuck and Much
behind rushed to the spot where Marion had slipped off
into the forest. With Robin, Will and Nasir away he was
determined to keep together what was left of their herd.
"Marion! Come back!" His call echoed through
the forest.

Tuck jumped slightly as John rushed away, shouting after
Marion. Then he saw why.. Marion wasn't to be seen. Very
suddenly, Tuck felt cold, despite the comforting warmth
of the fire and his woolen robes. This was his fault.
Marion had very nearly paid for his first mistake, and
now she was gone into the Greenwood alone, and with the
mysterious monk out as well, doing the bidding of Hugo.

Tuck sighed and looked to John. "John, go after her
please, she is a strong willed girl, and good of heart,
but I fear for her nonetheless," Tuck trailed off
and looked into the fire. He would remain here and wait
for Robin, Will, and the Infidel named Nasir. It was the
best he could do.

So Friar Tuck did what he had been trained to do - what
he had dedicated his life to do. He sank to his knees and
crossed himself. "In nomine patri, et fili, et
spiritus sancti...", and he prayed to his God, the
god
he knew he would call upon more in the coming months for
Marion's safe return, and for the others to return.

Marion lifted her head as if she heard something on the
wind. Quickly she covered her bright auburn hair with the
hood of her cloak and ducked behind some large trees and
underbrush. She heard something moving fast but quietly
through the wood. Marion waited hidden by the trees to
see who or what was coming.

She was not disappointed. After a short time, Marion saw
Little John walking quickly in the forest trying to find
her. 'Can I not take a walk alone to think?' she thought
almost gloomily. Marion realized that now was not the
safest time to walk without company in Sherwood with
Abbot Hugo's man riding here. 'I am sure that there will
be time enough for walks later.' she thought as she
watched Little John still looking for her.

She started preparing herself to go, then jumped as she
felt a light touch on her shoulder. Marion turned
prepared to fight and make a loud noise when she saw a
familiar figure. Robin stood before her with with a
slight smile, the venison he had hunted for their supper
over his shoulder . Marion smiled in return. "You
frightened me.."

Robin grinned, dropped the deer and moved to embrace her
just as he saw Little John enter the clearing behind her.

"John, will you carry back the venison... Gisburne's
in the forest." He slid an arm around Marion's
waist.

"He's not alone... Hugo has a man in the wooods as
well." The big man easily slung the deer across his
shoulders, looked behind Robin then frowned. "Where
are Will and Nasir... did something happen?"

"Gisburne happened... we split up... I imagine
they'll be back to camp by the time we get there."
Robin turned to Marion with a smile, "We better head
back... I'll tell you all about it when we get
there.."

Marion wrapped her arm around Robin's waist and smiled.
"You had better tell me everything or you will be in
trouble." She kissed Robin on the cheek and began
walking toward the camp. "What does Gisburne want
here? I thought that he was afraid of these 'haunted
woods'. Unless, of course, he is here to find
you..." Marion turned her face from him, so he would
not see her nervousness. "Or the rest of us. Then
again, Gisburne never had a good sense of
direction..."

Marion moved away from Robin, but she took his hand for a
moment and slightly squeezed it. She walked ahead in
thought.

Will
returns

Cursing Will stumbled over another root. This forest
was not yet his home - roots, gnats, brambles... Above
all he had lost his bow, had to run off into the forest
when Gisburne and his men came and on top of it all the
Saracen had saved his life... he felt a part of his
mistrust towards Nasir return - what if the Saracen had
tried to kill him and by chance shot the villain? What if
they all had been fooled? Will bit his lip and abandoned
himself to suspicion... when he finally reached the camp
and he only found Tuck and Much all he could do was to
bark at them... "Where the hell is everyone?!"

Tuck rose, letting his crucifix fall from his hands
against his breast. "I don't believe they're in
hell, Will," he said laconically. "Marian and
John Little entered the woods not too long ago." He
adjusted his brown woolen robe and sat again by the fire,
tending it with a stick. He had kept an eye on it while
praying.. a beacon for the others to return to. It didn't
occur to him that it might attract other, less welcome
visitors.

Tuck turned to Will Scarlett again. "Did you see
Nasir?" Tuck wasn't sure how to approach the topic
of the Saracen. He had never been much of an evangelist,
prefering to spend his time in prayer. But it was his
duty to bring the Word to savages, even the most noble
ones. But there was time enough for those thoughts later.
Tuck stood by the fire, waiting.

On Tuck's first remark Will stifled the immediate
response he had in mind... he hadn't meant it literally
and of course he knew the others weren't in hell, but
after a moment of reflection his humor had the better of
him and a broad grin crossed Will's face as he sat and
watched the friar see to the fire. The smile vanished as
soon as Nasir's name was mentioned. "Nasir - don't
know where he is. Met a couple of villains on the
road..."

Will told Tuck and Much what had happened on the road...
everything but the fact that he now owed is life to
Nasir. He finished... "then Gisburne showed up and
we ran off into the forest separately." Both Robin
and the Saracen should have been here by now. What took
them so long? Finally Will pointed towards the fire and
grinned again from ear to ear. "If you keep that
fire burning bright enough though, it could give all of
us a foretaste of hell..."